You can apply to join the PHPS to grow proven healthy stock if you’re a commercial grower (‘propagator’) of:
- soft fruit - strawberries, berry fruit, currants
- top fruit - apples, pears, cherries, plums
- hops
- rootstocks and ornamental varieties associated with top fruit
- micropropagated material (of any crop)
Crops are inspected at least once a year by APHA Plant Health and Seeds Inspector to check they meet the standards set out in the guides.
Assessments are normally made on the basis of visual examinations, but samples may be taken for laboratory analysis to get a definitive diagnosis.
If a stock fails an inspection, APHA may tell the the propagator they can take remedial action (eg by removing plants that don’t meet the scheme standards) and request an additional inspection.
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